On the Pond

Growing up in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, I used to fish for "sunnies" on the Conestoga Creek.  Sometimes we would travel to the Susquehanna River in Columbia to fish, and there we caught flathead catfish. I think that put an end to my fishing interests! Ugh!

Here are some shots from the pond this week-end.

A young neighbor brought his grandfather to share some quality time before school starts.

Fields and Flowers

Team

In motion this team of horses were regal.
I wish I could share more.

I pulled a "U"y to get this one shot.

Freeze & Frizz

Visiting Lancaster last weekend, I was disappointed to not be able to go to the Lititz Freeze & Frizz for a cone. I was staying nearby, and it was right on the corner of Route 501 by the Lancaster Airport, about a mile down the road. Development is happening in that area like wild fire, and now all you find in its location is an empty field. Turns out, the business relocated a few miles away in downtown Lititz. I'm sure the town residents enjoy that.As I drove around, I found myself near my childhood home and another Freeze & Frizz, so I made the little detour there. This place was such a treat in my youth, and its hardly changed.
And lucky me - no line. That could be a first.The raspberry soft serve was wonderful!
Good memories.

The Plant Trip

Gardeners usually start with inspiration from other gardeners, and then consider the sun and ground conditions they end up with, wherever they are. My first inspirations were my parents and their vegetable and herb gardens, with a few temperamental fruit trees included. Recently, I went from 17 years of a shade garden, to the last six years in mostly full sun, and a slightly warmer climate. Its been a bit of a shift in growing habits.

My best friend from high school, Terry, has created this wonderful cottage garden in her back yard. She and I started with cuttings and divisions from my mothers herbs and flowers. Then we bought more, shared with more friends and planted more than a few seeds. We've passed new divisions and seedlings back and forth when one of our gardens failed a crop, or we grew a new addition.

This is a gorgeous Fountain Butterfly Bush that I struggled to get a root cutting off with some shoots. The roots close to the main plant were as thick as my wrist (the only thin part of my body I will say!). I do hope it makes it. We have both accumulated new plants along the way and through the years. Mostly perennials and herbs. Somewhere I read something that perennial gardeners learn eventually. Perennial doesn't mean perpetual. That's why its great to have gardening friends to share with.

But we always need to find new plants, just like quilters need to find new fabric for their stash. Don't need it. Just have to have it.

Ken's Gardens in Smoketown and Intercourse, PA is where I have stopped for at least 25 - 30 years of gardening. They have everything from veggie plants to fruit trees and are very orderly, so that you can find what you are looking for. The herbs are all alphabetized and segregated by annuals and perennials.

The flowers are ordered the same, and then shade and dryness, and the length of their blooms.

I know a lot of places do this, but Ken's seems to do this so well, and they are "tradition" at this point for me. My friends have led me to some places like Roots Country Market in Manheim, and the Flower Wagon in Lititz, where I have found great buys and variety in plants, but old habits die hard.

Whatever it is about Lancaster, it has kept me coming back year after year. I think the plants and quilts and the farmland where I grew up is a big pull, but its the time to see friends and refresh in a place I still consider my hometown.

Dutch Fourth of July - Lancaster County

This road is by a beautiful 1700's stone, grain mill building and barn I was photographing as I was driving around Lancaster on Monday.

The local traffic of buggies was unavoidable at that time. Everyone was coming home from their services and picnics.I went to visit an old Amish neighbor who has a health food store, earlier in the day, and the sign on her door read "CLOSED - Religious Holiday". Driving around, I noticed many large gatherings, picnics, and volleyball games ( just the men!) on lawns. As the day went along, I found out that it was Whit Monday. I remember in England, Whitsuntide was a celebrated time, but I had forgotten about the term till this week.

Whit Monday Background
Christian Pentecost commemorates the Holy Spirit’s visit to the apostles who received the “gift of tongues” on the 50th day after Easter. It also marks the birth of the Christian Church. Although it is not certain when Pentecost was first observed by Christians, it may have been early as the first century. Pentecost occurs roughly seven weeks after Easter Sunday, or 50 days after Easter, including Easter Day. Like Pentecost, Whit Monday is movable because it is determined by the Easter date.

Whit Monday used to be one of the major annual holidays in Pennsylvania Dutch country in the United States. From around 1835 to just after the Civil War, Whit Monday was referred to as the “Dutch Fourth of July” in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, where people came to eat, drink and be entertained.

http://www.timeanddate.com/holidays/common/whit-monday

Fair warning: Don't be in a hurry on Lancaster roads on Whit Monday!